SOUTH HADLEY - A Chicopee man who grew up in town has accepted the job of general manager of the municipal Ledges Golf Club for $55,000 a year.

Town Administrator Michael A. Szlosek said yesterday that Ryan W. Richard, the first assistant golf professional at Ellington Ridge Country Club in Ellington, Conn., is expected to start work Oct. 1.

"I am looking forward to having him come on. I think he will be a good addition," Szlosek said.

Richard, 32, expressed excitement about coming to work in South Hadley.

"I think it will be a great opportunity for me to redirect the Ledges in a new direction," Richard said.

The town's first choice for the job, Robert W. Graczewski, declined an offer of $55,000 annually. The position had been advertised at from $50,000 to $70,000 a year.

Richard has said he would like running the municipal golf course, which posts deficits of about $500,000 a year, to be his last job.

He will take over from Michael Fontaine, who supervises maintenance of the course and who has stepped in as interim superintendent of the facility. The course has had two interim superintendents since Paul E. Ryiz resigned abruptly in early March.